Loose-leaf binder



Oct. 16, 1951 J'AQ'RENNI'E I fLoosE-LEAF BINDER Filed May' 16, 1946 .mfr

y 71115* @ii-07471695 l Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED sr LoosE-LEAF BINDERV John A. Rennie, Laurelton, N. Y., assignor to Boorum and Pease Company,'Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 16, 1946, Serial No. 670,174

2 Claims. 1 Y

The invention relates to a loose leaf binder and particularly to the binding mechanism in a ring book.

The object of the invention is to produce a binder which is attractive in appearance and which at the same time can be sold at a minimum price. More specifically the object 'is to do away with means on the outside of thevback of the cover for holding the binding mechanism Ain the cover, and at the same time both provide a sturdy,

durable binder and eliminate as many steps as possible in the manufacture of the device, and reduce the number of parts of the device, thus reducing the manufacturing expense, so that the binder can be sold at a minimum price, without reducing its efficiency.

These objects are attained by the mechanism described in the following specification including the accompanying drawings' which `form a part of the specication, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a shield forming part of the present invention;

Figure 2 is the similar view of the base showing parts broken away and showing part of the shield in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the shield shown `in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the base shown in Figure 2, additional parts of a loose leaf book being shown partly broken away; r

Figure 5 is a cross-section on a line analogous to 5--5 of Figure 6, through a complete loose leaf book embodying the invention, part of the cover and lining being shown broken away;

Figure 6 is alongitudinal section through an assembled base andV shield, other parts being omitted for clarity;

Figure 7 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale, of a detail taken on the line 'I-'I of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a similar cross-section of a modified form of prong.

In the drawings are shown the parts of a binding mechanism including a novel base plate IIJ, ring bearing means II to which are attached ring valves I2, and a cooperating shield I3.

The novel base plate I0 comprises a longitudinal plate or strip I4 from the material of which a pair of prongs I5, I5 is struck up near each end of the plate, leaving corresponding cavities I6 in the plate adjacent each prong. Each prong is preferably formed with a shoulder II just below a terminal finger I8 of less width than the shoulders of the prong. To give the prongs greater strength, they are preferably bent so as to have SCI an arcuate cross-section as shown particularly in 55 Figure 7. However, other configurations may be used for the prongs. A modification with a diierent cross-section is shown at I5a in Figure 8.

VThe shield I3, which cooperates directly with the base plate I0 in a novel manner, is illustrated in the drawings as constructed with a depressed area or cup I9 near each end and at the center of the width or narrow dimension of the shield, Within which depression are slots 20 of a size suitable to receive the. reduced ends I8 of the prongs. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the shield I3 comprises a curved strip preferably with a flange 2I along each edge lto receive the edges of the ring bearing means II,

f and notched in usual manner at 22 to permit the passage of the rings I2.

At Figure 5, there is illustrated a loose leaf book embodying the invention. The book is illustrated as having a. cover 23 and lining 24 carrying the binding mechanism. As shown particucomprises plate I0 and ring bearing means Il placed above the base plate, and shield I3 placed above the plate and the ring bearing means. The ring bearing means, not shown in, detail, is so proportioned or cut away as to permit the passage of the prongs I5, I5 from the 'base plate I8 through or past the ring bearing means into slots 20 in the shield I3 above said means. The lingers f the shoulder II of the prongs thus spacing the shield any desired distance above the base and the ring bearing means.

The prongs I5, I5 which are continuous with the material of the strip I4, are of the same thickness as the rest of the base plate IIJ. The curved configuration of the prongs gives them great strength and thus permits the use of thin strip material for making the base plate I0. The

use of a thin rather than a thick base plate is,

an advantage both because it helps to keep the base plate and the shield, can be struck out from a sheet of material and completely formed-in a single operation. Thus, in making the base plate Il), a stroke can cut out theconiiguratiorothe-rV strip I4 and the outline of the prongs I5, 'I5' fandl their cavities I6. withdrawn, the prongs can be foldedgup substantially at right angles with the strip I4. At the same time a curved configuration can be givento the prongs as shown particularly in Figure 7, and a curved conguration can be given'to the strip I4 as shown particularly in Figure 5; Similarly aV single stroke'is usedto' cut out the blank ofthe shield i3, makethe depression I 9 vand punch the slots 20 therein.'A In the samefbefore being punched operationthe shield is curvedr and :llanges 2I are formedby passing through aforming roller. Binders heretofore' knownhave required a largernumber of .parts and more operations to put them together V i s In assembling the binder, the base plate It) is placed along the back 25ct the cover 23 and the lining 24 `is then secured in place, coverngfthe edgeszof the base plate but leaving the prongs exposed. Inthe meantime the remaining parts` are assembled together, that istolsay,a.pair of ring bearing means II with" its rings I2 is assembled. within the flanges `2I .of theY shieldIS. The only remaining operation is to `insert, the fingers I8 of the prongs' lthrough the slots 2D and to turn down the fingers` into thedepressions I9 in the shield. L The provision of a pair of prongs I at one end of the plate I0 curved Aoppositelinand another pairyo'f prongs I5' at .the .other end;l also curved Oppositely,` provides srtability'and stillness to the As the cutting instrument i's structure so as t'o stronglyresst anytendency to collapse in case Ypressure is applied in'opposite directions to the basel plate and shield. I This is a greatlsaving in operationsv overwhat has been necessary irassembling binders Vof" training.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. ln a loose leaf binder having spaced rings, ring carrying means, a cooperating shield on one side of said ring means 'withslots' in -ith'e midportion of its width, a base plate ori the other side ofsaid means having near its ends and integral therewith longitudinally spaced hollow prongs plate cooperating' toAT hold -saidfrin'gcarrying -I'iearis therebetween. Y

2.- -In a loose leaf binder having spaced rings and means carrying saidfrin'gsfa cooperating slotted; shield-on voneside thereof, :a base'- plate on the other side of said? ring-carryingmeans;

having a-"pair of longitudinally spacedjprongsy arcuate in cross section near' each'lendthereof struck up therefrom; thefprongs' ofi eachvpair hav-j ing their concave surfaces'facing' oppositely ,aiI

fording stability andstiff'ne's's resistant towopposite lengthwise presures exerted on v'said f base'lj plateand shield, eac h1irong` `having -`on its free endv arshoulder for'sripporting the' shield and a terminal finger of 'reduced width pas'sing-through a slot in the shield anfd bent dwnftosecure-v the` shield and plateitogether and holding saigdl'ririg` bearing means therebet JOHN A- RENNEr.

UNITEDVSTATES YPA'rnrrrs.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,571,945 October 16, 1951 JOHN A. RENNIE It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 45, for valves read halves; column 4, line 8, before means insert cawyz'ng;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the Y same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent OHice. Signed and sealed this 26th day of February, A. D. 1952.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

